The Philadelphia Chapter Links, Inc. sponsored a “Healthy People, Healthy Communities, Heart Healthy and Childhood Obesity Program” on Saturday, May 5. The free program for the community was held at historic Girard College, Founder’s Hall in North Philadelphia.

There has been an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in ethnic communities. Obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity are all risk factors that can be modified. We, The Philadelphia Chapter of The Links, Inc., Founding chapter, recognize the need for targeted intervention strategies that address and produce sustained results among African-American families and children to battle heart disease and childhood obesity. “Heart Healthy and Childhood Obesity “Program highlights included:

Chefs who demonstrated how to prepare healthy, nutritious meals were: Takiyah Perkins, Erica Lewis, Gabrielle Ingram, MarvaLisa Scott, Keesha Boyd and Gerda Gallop-Goodman.

Other exhibitors were: Frances Conwell, Andrea Grahm, Thurselle Treece-Mackney and Robin Edwards.

Highlights of the afternoon program included a panel of expert health advisors who shared information about a range of health related topics. Panelists included Dr. Michael Adams, Dr. Deneen Hendrick, Laura Robinson, Dr. Robin Jones, Kimberly Garrison and Dr. Gerald DeVaughn.

There were also blood pressure and diabetes screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, nutritional advice, dancing, fitness demonstrations and a special children’s program.

The Links, Inc. is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The Philadelphia Chapter of The Links, Inc. is both the founding chapter of the organization and one of the largest chapters with more than fifty members.

Current officers of The Philadelphia Chapter Links, Inc. are president, Sherilynn Johnson Kimble; vice president, Stephanie Watkins; corresponding secretary, Mahlene Duckett Lee;

recording secretary, Brenda Johnson Best; financial secretary, Catherine Broach; treasurer, Deidre L. Patterson and parliamentarian, Margaret Wright.

Congratulations to author Jennifer S. Matthews who recently received the Institute for Financial Literacy’s 2EIFLE (Excellence in Financial Literacy Education) Award for Adult’s Book of the Year. In her book, “12 Ways to Put Money in Your Pocket Every Month Without A Part Time Job,” she shows readers how to convert 12 everyday expenses into 12 money-making opportunities. The money created is in areas where money is already being spent. Readers who follow the simple steps outlined in this award-winning book create several hundred dollars each month.

Matthews has more than 8 years experience assisting clients with developing and adhering to spending plans, increasing and understanding credit scores, affordable homeownership and achieving financial goals. She develops and conducts workshops, teleseminars and corporate trainings. Her services also include affordable detailed, personalized wealth creation systems for clients. Matthews developed “Post Foreclosure Help,” a 5-part comprehensive program to help families recover financially and reposition themselves to return to homeownership.

Matthews earned a B.A. degree in Labor Studies from Rutgers University, an M.A. in Professional Communication from La Salle University and an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University. She holds certificates of professional recognition in “Homebuyer Education Training” and “Beginning to Intermediate Foreclosure Prevention” from Neighbor Works.